“I don’t know. Possibly some of Izabela’s magic. Or they can drain me to the point of death and then bury me somewhere in the hills above the town.”
Kadie’s head jerked up and she stared at him in horror. “No! I won’t permit that! Never!”
Saintcrow shrugged. “I’m not crazy about the idea, either. But if it’s the only way to keep you safe...” He shrugged. “Hell, I was deep in the earth when you first came here.”
She shuddered. “I remember.”
“It’s not so bad.”
Blinking back her tears, Kadie threw her arms around him, thinking no man on earth had ever offered to endure such a horrible fate to protect the people he loved.
~ * ~
Kadie was on edge the next few days. Sometimes she felt like she was sitting on a time bomb, never knowing when the next explosion would come. She watched Rylan like a hawk, though she tried to hide it, just as she tried to conceal her anxiety, but there was no hiding anything from Rylan.
He, too, was restless. Knowing that his presence made her nervous, he left the house for long periods of time after dark and slept a good part of the day. She knew he was staying away in hopes of putting her at ease, but she missed him dreadfully. The nights were long without him. It had been days since they made love and she missed that, too. She understood his reluctance, knowing how helpless she would be if he lost control in the midst of their lovemaking. But abstinence only made both of them restless and edgy.
Finally, late one night, she turned out all the lights in their lair save for one candle and stretched out on the bed clad in nothing at all.
In spite of her best efforts to control it, she felt herself tense when he materialized in their bedroom.
A soft oath escaped his lips when he saw her. She was every man’s dream, her skin the color of fresh cream, her long dark-brown hair cascading over her shoulders, her golden-brown eyes watching him warily.
“Kadie,” he said, his voice tight.
“Welcome home, husband.”
He knotted his hands into fists. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Everyone knows sex is a great way to relieve tension.”
“So they say. I’ll be right back.”
She frowned as he vanished from the room, returning moments later carrying a wicked looking hunting knife. “What’s that for?”
“If I lose control, just plunge it into whatever part of me is handy.”
“Are you crazy?”
“It won’t kill me, but it’ll get my attention long enough for you to get away.”
“Nothing’s going to happen,” she said, patting the mattress beside her.
Muttering, “I wish I could be as sure of that as you are,” he placed the knife on the bedside table. His clothing disappeared as he stretched out beside her and took her in his arms. “I love you, darlin’. I don’t know how you’ve put up with me this long.”
“It hasn’t been easy,” she said, stifling a grin as she felt his arousal against her thigh. “But the results are worth it.”
With a low growl, he claimed her lips with his while his hands worked their familiar magic, arousing her until she was on fire for him, her nails clawing his back and shoulders as she strained against him, reaching for that one magical moment when their bodies and thoughts blended together in a way that few people ever achieved. She had a sudden image of that moment in PG movies when fireworks burst into the air letting everyone know the onscreen couple were making mad, passionate love.
The thought made her smile.
“What’s so funny?” Saintcrow asked as their breathing returned to normal.
“Nothing.”
“You’re going to wound my manhood,” he warned.
“It had nothing to do with you. I was just thinking about those old movies. You know the ones, when fireworks left everything to your imagination.”
